Evaluation of the annual electric energy output of an a-Si:H solar cellin various regions of the CIS countries

We have calculated annual (i.e., for each day of the year) daytime dependences of the electric power output per unit area of an a-Si:H solar cell (SC) at latitudes 45°N, 50°N, 55°N, 60°N and at certain geographical points of Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus. The calculations were based on a rigorous theoretical model, which allows to determine photoconversion efficiency, optimal electric power output and other photovoltaic electrical characteristics at arbitrary angles of solar irradiance incidence on an a-Si:H-based SC. Parameters of the a-Si:H SC under consideration provide photoconversion efficiency of 10% at 12:00 noon on equinox day at the 45°N latitude despite small total thickness of 0.7µm of the a-Si:H SC structure up to the rear contact. Normalization of the obtained results by maximal values enables one to infer respective time dependencies for other types of SCs. In combination with the data on average numbers of sunny days per year (or average annual sunshine hours) for certain geographical regions, this provides a way for understanding the feasibility of solar electricity generation in these regions. Based on this study, we identify regions of Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, for which electricity generation exceeds the average values by over 30%.